New £8m defender first of 'several' signings as Sunderland aim to quickly complete more deals

Richard Mennear

The £8million signing of former Chelsea centre-back Papy Djilobodji is the first of "several" according to Sunderland boss David Moyes.

And Moyes says the club is looking to move swiftly in the transfer market with hopes high that more deals will be concluded "quickly" ahead of the new Premier League campaign, which starts away to Manchester City on Saturday.

Djilobodji is Moyes' - and the club's - first signing of the summer, with Sunderland looking to add four or five further additions.

The 27-year-old Senegalese international, who can also play as a defensive midfielder, has signed a four-year deal at the club.

"It’s hopefully the first of several,” said Moyes.

"There is no doubt that the squad is short and we must add to it but in Papy we have added another central defender.

"He’s naturally left-footed and that’s what I wanted plus he gives me more competition.

"I hope [he can settle straight into the Premier League] because he has good experience playing in Germany last year and he's a Senegalese international.

"He’s 27 which is a good age for us and I hope we can make him a better player, but it’s never easy coming to a new club so we need to give him some time to settle in but hopefully he will go on to be a good player.

"It’s a jigsaw and you can only put the bits in you get at the time, but I’m pleased that I’ve got the first bit in and I’m looking forward to concluding some more deals quickly," Moyes told the club's website.